All eyes across the subcontinent are glued to television screens as the Asian powerhouses take the field, competing for the Asia Cup title. The build-up to the tournament was dominated by the much- hyped India–Pakistan rivalry, and amid all the noise, there was an opening for other teams to step up and prove that this competition wasn’t just a two-horse race. The Asia Cup has always carried the potential to showcase the depth of talent in the region, but so far, that narrative has struggled to unfold.
Missed Opportunities and One-Sided Contests
Through the league stages and even into the Super 4s, the spotlight has stubbornly remained fixed on Indo-Pak contests, with the rest of the field unable to generate the same kind of attention through their performances. Afghanistan, who promised so much with their fighting spirit, failed to make it to the Super 4 stage. Sri Lanka looked dominant early on, entering the Super 4 unbeaten, but quickly ran out of steam, losing back-to-back games and crashing out of the tournament.
Bangladesh and Pakistan, meanwhile, have been inconsistent—winning some, losing some—without ever really displaying the quality or consistency to be considered serious threats.
India, on the other hand, remain unbeaten, and while that might sound like a challenge was posed, the truth is their opposition has rarely managed to trouble them. Matches involving the associate nations—UAE, Oman, and Hong Kong China—have further highlighted the gulf in class, with these teams failing to make any meaningful impact.
As a cricket fan, it’s hard not to feel concerned. The Asia Cup should ideally be a stage where the region’s cricketing nations push each other to higher levels. Instead, what we’ve witnessed is a tournament dominated by one storyline—India vs Pakistan—while the overall quality of cricket has dropped.
That’s not a healthy sign for the future of the game in the subcontinent.
From Fierce Battles to Empty Buzz
The talks around the Indo-Pak contest haven’t been driven by close cricketing battles but by the ongoing tensions between the two nations. The narrative has been less about runs, wickets, or strategy and more about handshakes, gestures, on-field body language, and the usual verbal spats. In fact, the so-called marquee clash failed to attract fans because the quality of cricket never matched the hype. And that, in itself, is a worrying sign. Growing up, the Asia Cup was never like this. Back in the 1990s and 2000s, the tournament carried real weight—teams were more evenly matched, contests were fierce, and the buzz was entirely about the cricket.
In recent years, however, the quality gap between the sides has widened drastically, and that decline is the biggest reason why the excitement and anticipation around the Asia Cup are no longer what they used to be.
Sixteen games have been played so far in the the 2025 Asia Cup, and only two of them have truly managed to spark interest by offering fans a competitive fight, a nail-biter, or a thrilling finish. That lack of edge has been visible not just on TV screens but also in the stands, where stadiums have struggled to reach full capacity. Even the much-hyped India–Pakistan clash wasn’t sold out, though in that case, the political tensions and boycotts between the two nations played a role.
Still, the broader truth remains—this Asia Cup hasn’t lived up to expectations.
The quality gap between sides has widened significantly, with India pulling far ahead while the rest continue to hover on a similar level. For me, this tournament should have been an opportunity for Asian teams to showcase their talent and announce themselves on the global stage. Alarmingly, that hasn’t happened, and genuine fans are slowly losing interest in these one-sided, lopsided contests.
The Asia Cup was shifted into a T20 format with the idea that shorter cricket levels the playing field, giving even the less-skilled teams a chance to spring surprises. But that promise has simply not materialised—not in this edition, and not in the recent ones either. Ironically, last year’s Asia Cup in the 50-over format offered far more thrillers, tighter contests, and a genuine sense of competition. This year, the tournament has lacked both bite and balance, leaving fans underwhelmed. In my view, it’s time to return the Asia Cup to its original 50-over format, where the game not only carries more substance but also offers a better platform for teams to test their depth and skill against each other.
Only then can this tournament hope to reclaim its lost relevance and excitement.
